Zuko Komisa

South African singer Holly Rey has joined a significant global campaign with Barbie, introducing the brand’s first-ever doll with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). This initiative holds particular resonance for the award-winning artist, who was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 11.
The 29-year-old has been candid about her health challenges, having faced kidney failure, anaemia, and high blood pressure since December, resulting in multiple hospitalisations.
On Wednesday, Rey was unveiled as a South African ambassador for the new Barbie campaign, sharing the honour with 10-year-old dancer Sayuri Sewsunker. Together, they aim to raise awareness about living with T1D and foster a sense of belonging among children with the condition.
Taking to Instagram, Rey expressed her excitement, stating the campaign makes “not just children but all type 1 diabetics feel so seen and included.”
She reflected on her own childhood experiences, recalling feeling like an “outsider” and facing bullying due to a misunderstanding of her condition.
“Diabetes was viewed as something that you did to yourself by eating too many sweets,” she wrote
Mattel, the company behind Barbie, hopes the new doll will promote greater acceptance. Krista Berger, Barbie’s Senior Vice-President and Global Head of Dolls, emphasised the doll’s role in inclusivity: “By reflecting medical conditions such as T1D we ensure more children can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love.”
This new Barbie doll is more than just a toy; it symbolises acceptance, hope, and strength for countless children navigating life with diabetes.
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